The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety on Tuesday awarded the Tesla Model Y its best safety title, known as the Top Safety Pick+.
The Model Y earned top “Good” ratings in all six crash and crash test categories. It is provided with a top-rated “Premium” front collision prevention system to help avoid collisions with vehicles and pedestrians; and it received a top “Good” rating for the LED headlamps in the Model Y Performance or “Acceptable” for the LED reflector headlights in other versions.
Overall, that qualifies the whole Model Series Y for the IIHS top tier, its Top + Safe Pick rating. The organization notes that it applies after a software update — in Tesla’s case, an update that’s easily downloaded over-the-air.
The Model Y earned top five-star overall results in federal NCAP crash testing, as well as five-star results in all test subcategories.
In April 2021, Tesla begins converting Model Y and Model 3 vehicles in North America to fully camera-based Tesla Vision technology, with a next-generation processing system that no longer incorporates radar.
2021 Tesla Model Y IIHS crash test
Some Model Y vehicles were initially delivered with the previous-generation system, which the IIHS noted received a lower “Advanced” rating in crash avoidance tests.
The Model Y isn’t the first smaller electric crossover to receive a nod from the IIHS. The Volkswagen ID.4 and Rechargeable Volvo XC40 earned the Top Safety Pick+ title earlier this year, and the Ford Mustang Mach-E earned the next best Top Safety Pick rating, reduced only by headlight performance. The Audi E-Tron is the first EV of any kind to win the Top Safety Pick+ title, while Tesla Model 3 first earned it in 2019.
Tesla has lowered IIHS test results In the past, note that they are less important in assessing the safety of an automobile than those given by the federal government. However, most automakers consider the IIHS tests to be the hardest and a point of pride when they pass them. That’s another great achievement for this best-selling electric car.
